Roger Stone, a friend and confidante of Donald Trump, was found guilty on seven charges last year that were brought up in Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s report.
Earlier this week, the Justice Department’s prosecutors stated that they would be sentencing Stone to up to nine years in prison.
However, in a stunning politically-charged move, higher ups in the Justice Department have walked back this statement, saying that they were unaware of how “extreme” the sentencing for Stone was.
“The Department was shocked to see the sentencing recommendation,” a Justice Department official told CNN. “The Department believes the recommendation is extreme and excessive and is grossly disproportionate to Stone’s offenses.”
These statements have shocked many political commentators, who have stated that this throws into doubt the Justice Department’s role as an independent part of the government.
As a rule, the Justice Department tries to stay away from even the appearance of acting as the president’s own personal law enforcement.
However, with the stunning turnaround on the Stone ruling, this has been thrown into doubt. Stone’s sentencing, according to a top Justice Department official, should have been “run past them” first before being told to the public.
The Justice Department’s reversal came only hours after Trump publicly slammed the sentence. On Twitter, Trump said that the prosecutors’ sentencing of Stone was a “horrible and very unfair situation.”
“The real crimes were on the other side, as nothing happens to them. Cannot allow this miscarriage of justice!” Trump continued on his Twitter account.
Despite this, a Justice Department spokeswoman named Kerri Kupec maintained that the Justice Department made this decision before Trump’s statements were made public.
Grant Smith, one of Stone’s attorneys, met this news with optimism. Smith and Stone’s other lawyers have argued that 15 to 21 months would be more appropriate for Stone.
“We have read with interest the new reporting on Roger Stone’s case. Our sentencing memo outlined our position on the recommendation made yesterday by the government. We look forward to reviewing the government’s supplemental filing,” Smith stated on Tuesday.
